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Greg Cornwell: Expanding Access and Instructional Capacity
(2010–2014)
When Greg Cornwell assumed leadership of Roper Mountain Science Center, he brought nearly three decades of institutional experience to the role. Cornwell had joined Roper Mountain in 1985 as its first educator and over the years had served in multiple capacities, including Planetarium and Public Program Specialist and Education Curator. By the time he became Director, he understood the campus not only operationally, but instructionally.
Core public programming remained strong during his tenure. Second Saturday events and summer programs continued to draw families and school groups, sustaining the momentum built in previous years. Cornwell’s leadership, however, also included several developments that expanded instructional access and strengthened academic capacity.
One of the most significant additions during this period was the launch of the afternoon workshop series known as Explorations. These structured sessions opened Roper Mountain’s expertise directly to the community in a new format. Rather than attending only large public events, individuals could enroll in focused workshops taught by staff members across departments.
On the Living History Farm, participants learned traditional skills such as broom making and Dutch oven cooking. Natural science staff offered birding workshops and frog call identification sessions that connected learners to the ecosystems surrounding the campus. Some classes were designed specifically for children, others welcomed families, and several were created for adult participants. Teacher-focused workshops were also offered, extending Roper Mountain’s influence into classrooms throughout the district. Explorations broadened the Center’s instructional reach and created a new pathway for sustained, topic-driven engagement.
In July 2013, Roper Mountain secured a $660,244 federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers grant to support a four-year afterschool and summer program known as Xplorers. The initiative served at-risk elementary students from East North Street Academy and Thomas E. Kerns Elementary. Students received tutoring, lab-based science instruction, enrichment activities, and opportunities to explore STEM careers through interaction with scientists and community partners. The program strengthened Roper Mountain’s role in targeted academic support and extended-day learning.
Cornwell’s tenure also included a major renovation of Symmes Hall of Science. In response to increasing demand for middle school lessons delivered onsite, both downstairs and upstairs laboratory spaces were extensively renovated, resulting in the addition of ten new classrooms. The project significantly increased instructional capacity and enabled the Center to serve more students with standards-aligned science programming.
From 2010 to 2014, Cornwell’s leadership focused on continuity in public programming while expanding structured instructional access and modernizing key learning spaces. His tenure strengthened Roper Mountain’s role as both a community resource and a district-level instructional partner, preparing the campus for its next phase of growth.
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